Young Livingston Doctor Killed in House Fire on Wednesday

Authorities are investigating a fatal house fire on East Cedar Street in Livingston that claimed the life of a local doctor on Wednesday evening.

According to a release, a preliminary investigation suggests that Emmanuel Yacoub, a 30-year-old doctor at St. Barnabas Medical Center, may have started the blaze that ultimately caused his death.

Katherine Carter of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office stated that emergency responders pronounced Yacoub dead at 5:30 p.m., about an hour after the fire began.

Carter stated that the cause and origin of the fire are still under investigation, and an autopsy will be done to determine the cause and manner of Yacoub’s death.

Livingston Fire Chief Christopher Mullin told Patch that the fire was under control within 20 minutes, but emergency responders stayed on the scene until around 8 p.m.

Mullin called the incident “sad and unfortunate.”

According to county tax records, Yacoub purchased the home with another family member in 2011.